/ Web design
What makes a website look professional?
Consistent spacing, two fonts maximum, real photography, and one clear action per page. Not animations.
/ 01
The short version
Professional is mostly restraint. Amateur sites do too much; professional sites do less, consistently.
/ 02
What actually matters
- • Pick two typefaces and stick to them everywhere.
- • Use consistent spacing — the same gap between the same kinds of things.
- • Real photos of real people and real work beat stock every time.
- • One primary button colour used only for the main action.
- • Write like a person. No 'we pride ourselves on delivering bespoke solutions'.
/ 03
The bit most people get wrong
Most 'ugly' sites aren't badly designed — they're inconsistently designed. Fixing spacing and type alone transforms them.
/ 04
What to do next
Screenshot three of your pages side by side. If headings, spacing or button styles differ, that's your fix list.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get web design right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Do I need custom photography?
It's the single biggest credibility upgrade for a local business.
Are animations bad?
Subtle is fine. Anything that delays reading is not.
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